The Third Day

Last Sunday was the third Sunday in Epiphany, and we had the traditional Gospel reading from John 2: the wedding in Cana. Our Pastor, Deborah Geweke, in her sermon called our attention to the opening words of the Gospel: “On the third day…” The third day of what? The text doesn’t tell us, and she reminded us that weddings then were not the afternoon affairs we are familiar with, but, as is often still the case in the Middle East, multi-day celebrations uniting not only the bride and groom, but more importantly their families. So, perhaps it’s not surprising that the wine had run out. Days of merry making can make everyone thirsty. And the new wine was better than the original. And, of course, the water became wine on the third day, reminding us that in John, we are reading, not a historical narrative, but “a sign.” John signals more than the other Gospel writers that the miracles are not about miraculous events we should marvel at, but are pointers beyond the ordinary life the miracle disrupts. This miracle then points to the Resurrection. In John, Jesus is intensely present in this life, and also beyond this life, inviting us to enter into the life of God. Thus, we are invited always when hearing and reading scripture to look beyond the narrative as on-lookers and to take the opportunity to enter into communion with God via the story. Many methods have been put forward to help us do this, such as lectio divina, but they all are designed to get us beyond the literal meaning of the text, into a place where we might experience God more fully. The wedding at Cana is a good text to start this process, praying as we listen to be brought closer to God.